Dispensing device for liquids



oct; 2s, 1923. 1,471,441

o. J. BERG D1`s1 E11s1NG DEvlcE FOR LIQUIDS Filed Feb. 2o. 1922 Y 40 4720 115116 y /""f..,

.. y "JT-1W Patented @et 23, 1923.

e@ "nare 'oLIv'a'rt J. BERG, on can reen, rnnlitors. f

nisrnnsrne nnvrcn'roia moulins;

Application filed February zo, i922. -sefiaina 537,851.

To all whomfz't may concern.' l

Re it known that l, Gravin: d. BERG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oak Fark. Cook County, Illinois, have invented certain newand 'useful Improvements in Dispensing Devices for Liquids, of which thefollowing is a specification.

These improvements relate to means for discharging a quantity of liquidfrom a source of supply. In my practice the device is used fordispensing liquid soap, to which use 'it is peculiarly well adapted.

Devices for this general purpose have been hitherto suggested, and itisold to provide a dispensing mechanism which operates through theinstrumentality lof a plunger which may be forced into a chamber todisplace the liquid'therein. Various difficulties have been observed inthe use of hitherto suggested liquid dispensing devices, among which maybe mentioned that of maintaining the liquid against leakage, and thishas 'been particularly true in liquid-soap dis,-

pensers since the particles of that commodity move very freely upon eachother andthe liquid will ordinarily' escape through eX- cecdingly finecrevices or passageways. @ther objections have been the necessity offrequent cleaning or adjustment of parts'to maintain a device inanoperative condition.

The principal objects of the present improvements are to provide adispensing device in which the liquid may beheld securely againstleakage; one of such construction that its safety provisions will remaineffective4 throughout Aan exceedingly long period of time; one of simpleconstrue# tion and which isnot likely to get out of order, and whichdoes not call for adjustment or attention to maintain it in effectivecondition except possibly `for occasional packing or tightening of theexternal packing gland, as usual with such packing; one which isexceedingly strong and capable of withstanding` hard 'usage withoutinjury; one in which wear upon inter'ior'valvev parts is automaticallytaken care of throughout the life ofthe device; one which may occupy buta 'small amount of space; and one in which, through wear of valve parts,the valve elements tend to become even more perfectly fitted together.AVlt is a general object to provide a device of unusual utility throughsimplicity, strength and arrangement 'of parts; v l

"n'th'e accompanying drawings, which formrlpart of this'specification,Figure 1 is 4medial vertical longitudinal section through Vvmy improveddevice in af 4 'very simple,compact and efectivefQrm. Figures 2 and 3are transverse `sections,"a`s on the line 2`2 and 33 respectively ofFigure l; and Figuret is a perspective of the plunger frame vand stem.i' The improved construction illustrated is shown as a tubular devicewhich will. extend 1 ordinarily in 'a horizontal o lirectiolriA fromsome supply pipe as 15 which may project through a wall and be providedwith the threaded end 16. rlhis adaptation will be found suitablefor-wash-rooms where itis desired to dispense from time to time a smallquantity of soap such as the userjmay re'- quire.` According to thisadaptation the construction includesa tubular member 1T, the walls ofwhich define a supply chamber havingits end at 18 interiorly'threaded`whereby it may be screwed' upon the4 supply pipe at 16; j g V i hean'sforming a plunger chamber are shown asa cylindrical member- 20 threadedupon the outer end of the supply chamber 17 at 2L The plungercylinderhas a cylindrical part 22 extendinginto the hollow interior ofthe cylinder 17 spa`ced from the walls thereof whereby anAannular.passagel way 23 is formedbetweenvthese walls.' The inner end ofthe plunger chamber extension 22 is closed by areadily iapplicable yplug24; threaded -into thevcylinder walls. Between the end of the pipel'and'the'plug 24 is a space 25j whereby quantitvof liquid from the pipe15 may Ypass freely from 'the pipe through the y.space 25,;and into theannular passageway 23. Intake openings are shown in the plunllt) gerchamber walls' at 26,placiii'g the interior of theplunger 'chamberincommu'nication with the lpassageway 23. In prac'- tice a' singleintake 26 will suiiice butfthe flow will Inaturally be more prompt withtwo such openings s'hfown', andthe use of tw@ 'Such openings furtherLprovides that while the liquid is flowing from the pipe 15 through thelower opening 26 air may 7escape through the vupper opening-26 wherebythe plunger chamber may` bemor'rejdly 'f plunger vis 'providedV whichmaybe considered as originally consisting l`of'fa -cylindrical,headmilled on opposite 7sides to provide an intermediatesubstantiallyflat part' 3l leaving a flange-like retaining member 32 atone end and another 33 at the other end. A plunger stem 34 extendscoaxially beyond the outer end of the plunger chamber part 20 and isprovided at its outer end With a head or button 35. The packing gland 36encompassing the stem 34 is shovvn as ot ordinary construction and isadapted to compress packing 37 about the stem 34.

The flange-like part 33 is conically tapered at 38, and the part 2O isprovided with an interior annular edge at 40 concentric with the conicalsurface 38 against which this beveled flange 33 is adapted to pressunder thel influence of the coiled compression spring 4l operativelybetvveen the plug 24 and the shoulder or flange 32. The effect ot thisvalve at 38 and 40 is to maintain the device free from leakage at the'plunger' stem l34 during the relatively longperiods When the device isnot in use. Experience has shown that owing to the very pronounceddisposition of liquid soap tocreep through exceedingly minutepassageways it is almost impossible to maintain a supply of thatcommodity against leakage at a packed joint Without constant supervisionand attention, and it frequently happens accord- -ing to someconstructions that a fresh supply of a considerable quantity of suchsoap will have entirely disappeared over night throughv leakage at apacked lioint or at a valve which is not entirely suitable to thcobject. According to these improvements there is provided an auxiliaryseal intermediate the packing at 37 and the source of supply, except forthe short intermittent periods when the plunger is operated at Whichtimes the packing at 37 maintains the device against leakage at thestem.

vlt will be noted that when the plunger is in normal position to beoperated by a push upon the head 35 the plunger has cleared the intakeports 26 whereby the liquid may flow into the plunger chamber'. Suchliquid flow will ordinarily be gravitational7 and We will assume thatthe source of liquid supply is on higher planes than those oftheldispensing device. An outlet opening or port 45, through which theliquid is to be discharged, is shown as being spaced longitudinally ofthe plunger chamber a materially great distance from the opening` oropenings 26.

Valve means are shown as being carried by the plunger for closing theintake port or ports 26 and opening the outlet port 45 on the in-strokeof the plunger and for doing the reverse on the out-stroke.' These valvemeans are shown as a pair of relatively long oppositely-positionedmembers 46 held loosely at their ends between the plunger extensions 32and these members 46 being shovvn as longitudinal sections of a cylinderhaving the diameter of the interior of thecylindrical plunger chamber. Apair of expansion coil springs 47 carried in holes in the plunger part3l are arranged to press the valve members 46 apart and thereforeconstantly into engagement with the inner Walls ot the plunger chamber.

s Well shown in the drawings the intake and outlet openings 26 and 45respectively are in the paths of movement ot the convex `val ve members46 when the plunger is moved in and out. These valve members aremaintained in that relation to the ports by means which restrain theplunger from turning on .its axis. T he plunger guiding means tor thispurpose are shovvn as a pin or projection 48 extending from the shell 20into the plunger chamber and loosely into a longitudinal groove 50 in anedge of the plunger part 3l.

Assuming that liquid has ovved into the plunger chamber through a portor ports 26 when the parts are :in their normal position for use asshown by Figure l, it is apparentV that by pushing upon the head 35 thevalve members 46 Will be moved so as to close these intake ports 26, andthat substantially simultaneously or very shortly thereafter thedischarge port 45 Will be opened by the sliding aivay therefrom of theoverlying one of the valve members 46. Since the plunger stem 34 is ofmaterial thickness the entrance of a further amount of it into theplunger chamber reduces the capacity of the cham-- ber to hold liquid.The only escape for the liquid is the outlet port 45 and the bulk otliquid discharged thereaton each irl-stroke of the plunger isapproximately that ot the additional amount of the stem 34 forced intothe chamber. The valve members 46 are longenough to maintain the intakeports 26 closed throughout the in-stroke ot the plun- `ger.

The plunger is not an insidepacked piston in this device and does notfit tightly upon the chamber Walls except at the valvev members 46.rl`he plunger is more in the nature of an outside-packed piston, thepacking being at the gland 36. For such a liquid as the soap productmentioned a very slight clearance between the Hangs-like part 32 and thechamber Walls vvill permit the desired travel ot' the liquid 'from oneend ot the plunger to the other` This flange may be cut away at a placeor tvvo Vil" desired, as at 52 to provide for more free travel ot theliquid through or around plunger parts. The liquid also travels throughthe groove 50 and a similar groove 51 may be provided in the oppositeedge of the plunger part 3l. The seat-valve lange 33 will ordinarilynot` iit the cylinder Walls tightly enough to prevent a free flow aroundits edge When the plunger is pushed invvard, but gates may be formed inits edge also as at 54.

On the return stroke, induced by the spring 41, the intake ports 26 aremaintained closed substantially throughout the stroke, but toward theend ot the retuin or outward strokethe outlet is closed and the intakes26 are opened, whereupon another charge ot' the liquid flows into ltheplunger chamber. I

.-i. notable feature .is that Wear uponthe slidng valve members 461 andupon the chamber surfaces on Which they slide has the etiiect orlit-ting them together more accurately whereby insteadvof leakage WithW'ar We find still greater security against such loss. rl`his is highlyimportant in a valve mechanism for sucha slippery commodity as soap.

The particular shapes of the chambers and other parts shown are notessential'to the operation of the device, but the shapes shoivn make iorsimplicity of construction, ncatness in appearance, and effect aV savingin cost over some other forms which might Well be used. Various otherchanges of a mechanical nature may be Inade Without depait-ing from thcspirit of the invention here. et forth, and l. contemplate all suchmodifications or departures as fall lWithin the scope et the appendedclaims.

' l claim:

Vl. ln a ldispensing device of the character described., thecombinationl of Walls 'forming a chamber having an intake and anoutletfor a lioiiid` a reciprocable plunger in kSaid chamber, valve-meanscarried by the plunger and adapted to slide upon the chamber Wallshaving said intake andvoutlet and being adapted thereby to open andclose them, said lvc means being adapted to close the outlet ano open.the intake when the plunger is moved in one of its stroke directions andto close the intake and open the outlet When the plunger is moved in theopposite stroke direction. said valve means being` mounted ior relativemovement toward the Walls having the intake and outlet whereby a tightsliding fit may be maintained thereat, and spring` means 'For pressingsaid valve means .inst said Walls to maintain such tight ing lit.

2. ln a dispensing` device of the character described the combination ofWalls forming a chamber having an outlet for a liquid, a reciprocableplunger in said chamber, a i-falve device carried by the 'plunger forsliding movement on the Wall having said outlet, said valve device beingmounted for relative movement toward said Wall.,` spring meansassociated with said valve device for maintaining it with a tightsliding lit upon said Wall. said chamber having an outlettor dischargingliquid therefrom.

3. .ln dispensing device of the character described the combination ofWalls forming,r

che cher having an intake for the passage into ze chamber of a, liquidfrom a sourceJ of liquid supply and having 'an outlet, a reciprocableplunger in said chamber, Valve means carried yieldingly by the plungerand r pted to slide upon the chamber Walls Laying said intake and outletand to open and` close the intake and outlet on stroke movements, andspring means associated with the valve means ior maintaining the valvemeans With a good sliding fit upon the u'allshaving'the intake andoutlet. i.

e. In adispensing device of the character described the combination ofWalls forming chamber having an intake opening for the passage into thechamber' of a liquid from a sourceot liquid supply and having an outletopening :tor discharging liquid from the chamber, a reciprocable plungerin said chamber. yielding valve means for alternately ,opening andclosing said lintake and outlet openings, spring means for maintainingsaid valve means in tight sliding contact With the Walls having vsaidopenings, said valve means including a relatively long clo! sure devicevcarried by the plunger andarranged to move in a path occupied by one otsaid openings so as to close one oil said openings on one plunger strokeand maintainit closed throughout amaterially large part ot that strokeand to open it on the reverse stroke.' n p In adispensing device of thecharacter describedV the combination of Walls 'forming a vChamber for aliquid supply, Walls forming a plunger chamber having an intake openingin communication ivith said supply 'chamber and a .discharge openingorthe liquid to bel dispensed, a reciprocable plun# ger in said plungerchamber, two relatively long closure devices carried yieldingly by theplunger for said openings respectively, spring means for vmaintainingsaid closure devices in contact With the Walls having said openings,said closure devices being arranged to overlie said openingsrespectively in opening-sealing position during a materially large partof a stroke of said plungensaid openings being so arranged that thedischarge opening is closedand the intake opening is open during amaterially large part of the plunger stroke in one direction and theintake opening is closed and the discharge opening is open during amaterially large part of the plunger stroke in the opposite direction,and

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means for reciprocating the plunger including means adapted to displaceliquid in the plunger chamber on one stroke ot' the plunger. l

6. ln a dispensing device of the character described the combination ofWalls forming a chamber for a liquid supply, Walls Aforming a plungerchamber having an intake opening in communication With said supplychamber and having a discharge open-Y ing tor the liquid to bedispensed, a reciprocable plunger in said plunger chamber and definingpassageways whereby liquid in the plunger chamber may flow from end toend or" the plunger, two relatively ,long

closure devices carried by the plunger for.

said openings respectively, said closure devices being arranged tooverlie said openings respectively in opening-sealing position during amaterially large part or1 respective strokes of said plunger, springmeans for holding said closure devices in such closure-overlying andsealing position, said openings being so arranged that the dischargeopening` is closed and the intake` opening is open during a materiallylarge part of the plunger stroke in one direction and the intake openingis closed and the discharge opening is open during a materially largepart oit the plunger stroke in the opposite direction, and means forreciprocating the plunger including means adapted to displace liquid inthe plunger chamber 0n one plunger stroke.

7. In a dispensing device of the character described, the combinationorn walls forming a tubular chamber for 'aliquid supply and having meansfor connecting it to a source of supply, walls forming a tubular plungerchamber, there being interengaging means between the walls of said twochambers for securing them tightly to each other with the plungerchamber partly within the supply chamber, a readily removable closurefor the end of the plunger chamber within the supply chamber, areciprocable plunger in the plunger chamber, a plunger stem extendingfrom the plunger beyond the outer end of the plunger chamber, a readilyremovable packing device tor closing the outer end of the plungerchamber where said stem emerges therefrom, the plunger cham* loer wallshaving an intake opening and a discharge opening, the intake openingcommunicating with the supply chamber, valve means on the plunger toralternately opening one of said openings and closing the other thereofas the plunger is moved in a stroke direction, the arrangement beingsuch that the discharge opening is open on an inward stroke ot theyplunger whereby the movement of the stem into the plunger chamberdisplaces liquid therein and causes it to issue -from the dischargeopening.

8. ln a dispensing device ot the character described the combination ofcylindrical Walls forming a plunger chamber having an intake opening andan outlet opening for a liquid to be dispensed, walls forming a supplychamber into which said plunger chamber extends, said plunger chamberhaving an opening placing said chambers in con'lmunication with eachother and having also a discharge opening, a reciprocable plunger insaid chamber, yielding valve means carried by the plunger and arrangedto move in paths occupied by said openings respectively So as to closeand open each or" them to receive liquid into-and discharge it trom saidplunger chamber, means for maintaining said yielding valve means incontact with the walls having said openings, a cylindrical plunger stempartly within and partly without said plunger chamber, a packing glandwhere said stem emerges from said plunger chamber, an annular valve seatadjacent to said gland and within said plunger chamber, an annular valvecarried by said stem and adapted to contact said seat when the stem isin its outermost position, and spring means for maintaining said stemyieldingly in its outermost position.

OLVER J. BERG.

